NYS AMBER Alert

Crime Laboratory System: General FAQs

Q. Is the New York Start Police Crime Laboratory System accredited?

Yes. The Crime Laboratory System is mandated by the Executive Law to be accredited every five years by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD/LAB).

Additionally, the laboratory system undergoes a full inspection in the middle of each 5-year cycle. ASCLD/LAB has recently adopted the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 17025 accreditation standards, for the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories.

Q. How many laboratories are in the Crime Laboratory System and where are they located?

The Headquarters Laboratory is located within the Forensic Investigation Center in Albany, NY. The three (3) regional laboratories are strategically located in Newburgh (Orange County), Port Crane (Broome County) and Olean (Cattaraugus County).

Q. What is the impact of forensic science on courtroom testimony?

The results of forensic analysis can be irrefutable; therefore its impact on courtroom testimony is significant. Examples include: Matching the DNA pattern of a blood sample to the DNA pattern of a suspectâ€™s blood (or matching it to a convicted offender), matching hair fibers found at a crime scene to those from a suspect, and the expert testimony of a drug chemist to a previously unknown substance.

Q. Does the NYSP Crime Laboratory System work with any national organizations?

Yes. The personnel have collaborated with a number of organizations including the:

Q. When are tours of the Forensic Investigation Center conducted?

Tours are not being offered at this time.

Information on the NYSP website is presented as a community service. Reproductions of information
or images taken from the NYSP website must be used for the sole purpose of supplying information
as a non-reimbursable, community service. The rules and regulations of the State Police are contained in Title 9 (Executive
Department), Subtitle K of the state compilation and can be accessed through
the Department of State website. If you are unable to download a PDF document on this site,
you may request a copy by e-mailing the Planning
and Research Section. Please state which document you would like and supply your name, address
and phone number.